Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The first table below shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.0)
The table is given that illustrates the population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. It also illustrates the second and third table show change population of multiple districts over the same period.
According to the first table, the population of New York City increased from 1800 to 2000. In the year 1800, all five districts had a population of approximately 79,216; however, in the year 1900, the population had increased. In this year, all districts had a population of approximately 3,437,202. At the end, in the year 2000, all districts had a population of approximately 8,009,185. Too much population had increased in this year.
On the other hand, according to the second table, the district of Manhattan had a population of about 60,515. In 1900, it had increased by 54%, and in 2000 it had increased by 19%
According to the third table, other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. These districts had also increased their population over the previous years: .24%,46%, and 81% respectively.
Hence, NEW YORK CITY's population had increased year to year. In all districts, population increased over time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarize the data but fails to provide a clear overview or identify the most significant trends. The description of the data is often inaccurate; for example, the claim that the population increased by specific percentages like '.24%' is not supported by the provided tables. Furthermore, the response lacks a meaningful comparison between the districts, focusing instead on listing isolated figures. The overview is missing, and the data selection is inconsistent, which prevents the response from fully addressing the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as 'At the end' to introduce a date or 'On the other hand' when the contrast is not clearly established. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'second and third tables' without clearly linking the data points to the specific districts mentioned. The final paragraph is repetitive and does not effectively synthesize the information presented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'had'. There are noticeable errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'Too much population had increased' and 'change population of multiple districts'. The use of terminology is simplistic, and the student struggles to express numerical trends with precision. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of variety and the inaccuracies in reporting data restrict the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('The table is given that illustrates'), tense consistency, and punctuation (e.g., the misuse of periods and commas in the list of percentages). Complex structures are largely absent or attempted unsuccessfully. While these errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader and indicate a lack of control over basic grammatical forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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